During the cold winter night of December 5, 1905, a smoldering fire began in Blossom's Alley across the tracks from the train depot. It soon raged through the young town of Manassas, destroying 35 homes, the post office, and business bordered by Main, Center, and Battle Streets and the railroad tracks. Standing shoulder to shoulder, men, women, and children of all ages passed buckets of water and wet blankets down Center street to extinguish the fire.

Local lore tells that brickmaker Donation Libeau climbed the roof of the Peoples National Bank to douse sparks, and saved that building from destruction. Out of this tragedy emerged a story of courage and hope, as residents who fought the blaze would soon rebuild their town.

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